Fees, Payment & Good Faith Estimate

“In an era when mental health care is often dictated by insurance companies, rushed visits, and impersonal systems, I wanted to return to the fundamentals: listening closely, taking time, and offering thoughtful, evidence-based care rooted in trust.” – Dr. Shenoy

At Downtown Psychiatry Chicago, we believe that mental health care should not be dictated by insurance companies, that’s why we chose a private-pay, direct care model to protect that sacred space where real healing happens—free from third-party interference and red tape. This is compassionate psychiatric care without shortcuts, grounded in the old-school values of presence, discretion, and human connection.

We are a private-pay, out-of-network practice, meaning we do not bill insurance directly. This allows us to focus entirely on delivering personalized psychiatric care without the limitations of insurance networks.

Session Fees

We understand that pricing is an important part of your decision. Depending on session type, complexity and length, visits typically range from the low-to-mid hundreds. Exact fees will be shared before scheduling, along with a Good Faith Estimate as required by law. Many patients with PPO insurance receive partial reimbursement through their out-of-network benefits, often recouping 30–80% of costs.

That means your actual cost may be significantly lower than the out-of-pocket fee.

While we do not publish session fees online, we will review all costs during your free 15-minute consultation. You’ll receive a personalized Good Faith Estimate that outlines anticipated charges before any commitment is made.

Private-Pay Model

All patients are financially responsible for the full cost of their sessions. Payment is due prior to each appointment and a valid card must be kept securely on file.

We accept the following payment methods:

Credit and debit cards
HSA/FSA cards
ACH bank transfers via our secure portal

We do not accept Zelle, Venmo, PayPal, or other peer-to-peer services for HIPAA compliance.

Insurance & Superbills

While we are not in-network with any insurance providers, you may be eligible for out-of-network reimbursement if you have a PPO or similar plan. We’re happy to provide a detailed superbill (medical receipt) that includes:

Provider information and NPI
Service dates and CPT/ICD-10 codes
Fees paid and diagnosis codes (if applicable).

💡 Tip: Ask your insurer the following questions to explore your reimbursement options.

What is my out-of-network deductible for mental health services?
How much do you reimburse for sessions with an out-of-network psychiatrist
Is there an annual limit on reimbursement?

Good Faith Estimate Notice (Required by Federal Law)

Under the federal No Surprises Act, you have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate of expected charges for services.

You will receive your personalized estimate:

After your initial consultation
Before you begin treatment
Upon request at any time

This estimate outlines the likely costs for services based on the information available and is not a guarantee of final charges. If your billed charges are $400 or more above the estimate, you may be eligible to dispute the bill through the No Surprises Help Desk.

🔗 For more information, visit: www.cms.gov/nosurprises

Cancellation & Missed Appointment Policy

To respect everyone’s time, we maintain the following cancellation fees:

Less than 48 hours’ notice: $100
Less than 24 hours’ notice: $250
No-show or same-day missed appointments: Full session fee

These fees are not reimbursable by insurance.

But what if I have more questions about billing?

We’ll walk through all financial expectations during your consultation and are happy to answer questions before, during, or after your visit.

If you'd like to receive a copy of your Good Faith Estimate or request a superbill, please email us at [email protected].